How many job offers have you turned down because you felt as though you might not deserve it? Or how many times have you given up, procrastinated, or self-sabotaged your opportunity to start that new business or project because you think that it’ll turn out to be nonsense?
The major problem with having imposter syndrome is not that you’re not afraid to set high standards. Rather, the issue is a present anxiety that makes it seem as though the shoe of opportunity wouldn’t fit.
Imposter Syndrome Anxiety
This anxiety stems from the possibility of becoming embarrassed, rejected, or scrutinized. People with this anxiety are often affected by self-sabotaging negative thoughts and beliefs, especially in social and performance-related situations.
So, a typical Imposter Syndrome Anxiety may look like this: you get a job, and the manager asks you to pitch yourself to the top heads of the firm. Now, you may be thinking: “What if I say something dumb?” or “What if I’m not the right person for this job?” In the end, you may self-sabotage yourself by saying something your normal and capable self would never say, or you may turn down a job before you start, because of self-judgment and a false belief that you can’t handle it.
What are the Five Types of Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome differs across people as it manifests in many types of ways, and to overcome imposter syndrome, you need to know which one you are. Nonetheless, the most common types of imposter syndrome are:
The perfectionist: Nothing ever satisfies these people, and they often feel like they need to do better rather than focusing on their strengths.
The superhumans: These individuals often feel inadequate, which pushes them to work harder to measure up.
The expert: These people are often very skilled, but they still learn more as they underrate their expertise. Plus, they’re never satisfied with their level of exposure and experience.
The natural genius: These people often set ridiculous goals for themselves and judge their competence on how fast or how easy they can get the task done.
The soloist: These people think they don’t need any help as they can achieve things alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who suffers from imposter syndrome?
Research shows that imposter syndrome affects more women and people who are high achievers. But recently, it’s been seen that it cuts across all gender types, low achievers, and age groups.
Can imposter syndrome lead to suicidal thoughts?
Yes. If not handled effectively. Just like any thought, it starts out as something you can brush off so you don’t really pay that much attention to it. However, this thought grows subconsciously until one day it becomes too big to handle. Don’t panic! stay calm and breathe. Seeking professional help will definitely help in managing its effects.
What does imposter syndrome feel like?
When imposter syndromes hit, there’s a series of unpleasant thoughts in your mind that triggers that feeling of self-doubt and the feeling of not being good enough. This feeling triggers several emotional and physical responses like anxiety, nervousness, trust issues, stress, pain, embarrassment, and fear.
Now, when you start feeling these responses, you’d start to notice some unpleasant physical reactions like sweating, dizziness, tensed muscles, nausea, brain fog, tiredness, constant exhaustion, especially when you’re about to take on a big or crucial step.
How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome?
Overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t rocket science, nor is it easy. Sometimes, it’s rooted in our childhood days, toxic environment, or this present-day social life.
Nonetheless, with consistency, adopting some simple mindset tricks can go a long way to helping you overcome that feeling. So, here are five tips to overcoming imposter syndrome:
Tip 1: Practice the behaviors that boost confidence – Practicing behaviors such as trust, gratitude, celebration, and commitment help you own your achievements and help you perform better. So, instead of stressing about whether you are good enough or not, these behaviors will help you channel your energy to celebrate your achievements and to trust your capabilities.
There’s also this esteem of knowing that you’ve got whatever it takes to get something done. This confidence can help you stay committed to whatever task you have.
Tip 2: Stop comparing yourself with others – Comparison is a nasty distraction that takes you off the grid to your fulfillment. The more you compare yourself with others, the more flaws you begin to notice in yourself. So, work on your self-confidence by focusing on your unique strength and channeling your attention somewhere productive.
This way, you’ll start to recognize your progress and how far you have come. You’ll also be able to celebrate people’s successes without feeling threatened by them.
Tip 3: Be a healthy perfectionist – Have realistic expectations that you can achieve, and don’t worry too much about your mistakes, criticism, or setbacks. These things are inevitable as you only need to learn from them and grow.
Tip 4: Have a support system – Support systems hold an impact on the level of your self-confidence, so talking it out helps you to be transparent. Being transparent gives freedom, which brings you into the realization of your self-truth.
Tip 5: Keep going, and don’t stop shining!
There is a light within you that may be clouded by imposter syndrome. That light is your potential. It may take a while but once you overcome that cloud, you’ll be shining like a star!
You’ll light the way to your goals and towards the path to your best you. This means you can excel in the workplace and even in your personal life. you get to achieve the things that you thought you couldn’t. All you have to do is find your shine.
